Morning journal and courier., 1887-07-09
AN ImPOnrANr oURsr1oN

For New Haven MasOms-The Masonic
 Temple-A Lost Ohance-COmpulsory
 Dues-ssOnce a Mason Always a
 Mason.s,
 It has been reported that a movement is
 on foot to induce the Masonic lodges to re-
 move from the Temple because James D.
 Dewell and Julius Twiss have secured a lease
 of the property in favor of Hiram lodge No.
 1. The premises have been offered to the
 Masonic bodies by Hiram lodge on the same
 terms as heretofore, but a few kickers want
 to show their power of manipulating things
 by vacating said premises and leaving "Old
 Hiram" sole proprietors 'of all they survey"
 The most solid members and those who hold
 the purse strings in the various bodies are
 dead set against such a very unwise move
 ment, as they term it, and say openly that
 they won't furnish any financial aid to their
 younger enthusiastic brothers in the move.
 They say that between ten and fifteen thou
 sand dollars was expended in fitting up the
 Masonic Temple when it was dedica4ed to Masonic purposes, and they planked down liberally towards it; and furthermore no such fine quarters can be secured in the city for twice the rent they now pay; and that such @ move would give "Old Hiram" all the plums and frosting of the cake and they would have only the dough, and rare done at that 'I guess No the present Masonic says another. If the fraternity were really in want of different aocommoda- tions they should have needed the advice of John c. Anderson of Hiram lodge and bought the Third church property when it was offer ed at such a low figure. MT. Anderson offered as free gift to Hiram lodge good sum of money to secure the premises if the various Masonic bodies would unite with him in the purchase, but the committee after canvassing their lodges for week or more did not raise the required money, and other parties step ped in and secured this prize. It is still the opinion of quite number who are members
 of the order that an eligible location could be secured, it would be advantageous to build a Masonic temple having all the proper re- quirements; but until that thing IS accom-" | plished the wise heads in the various Mason I ic bodies think their present situation cannot be improved. Says another old member ot several of the Masonic bodies: Ever since the Grand lodge did the unwise act of arbitration | on Hiram lodge there has been nothing but I dues, dues, dues from the lodge to the chap. ter and commandery, and am getting about sick of it. The Grand lodge tavors compul- sory dues by taxing every taxable Blue lodge member this year 30 cents each, and the lodges and higher bodies to follow suite by dues of at least two dollars each member; and if the dues are not paid you are out of the
 lodge or other body. Now, compulsory dues are not Masonic, and as Allan G. Mackey, M. D., the author of the Standard Encyclo-
 modern p n. origin" and oomparatl7eIy @ a mod d. ern invention. and did not exist in good old ancient Masonry" and " there is no regula- tion in any of the old constitutions for the payment of dues," also the Grand lodge ought not to interfere, and no lodge has Masonic right to suspend 8 member from his lodge
 for not paying dues" Hiram lodge in fol- lowing out the ancient practice of Free
 Masonry does not believe compulsory dues to
 be Masonic, therefore disowns the right of any body of Masons to create compulsory
 dues under penalty for non-payment; but believes in the old Masonic maxim, "Once 8 Mason always Mason" MASON.